Greetings, dear readers! Today we delve into the lively saga of digital policy-making, where the stakes are high, the drama unfolds in boardrooms, and the battle against nefarious call-centre gangs is the talk of the town. At the very heart of the story is Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister, the honorable Prasert Chanthararuangthong, a name synonymous with digital diligence and tenacity. He has been navigating through turbulent technopolitical waters, facing a significant hurdle: the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s (NBTC) inaction on pivotal public interest protections.
Let’s paint the scene: call-centre gangs are running amok, and the NBTC, our telecom watchdog that ought to stand vigilant, is teetering on the brink of dysfunction, with meeting after meeting collapsing faster than a house of cards. No quorum, no progress—a cycle as vicious as a malware attack!
In a move that’s both strategic and stirring, Minister Prasert tapped the astute Srettha for a mission akin to diplomatic peacekeeping. It seems the minister’s recent tête-à-tête with NBTC’s top man, Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, shed light on the deep-seated discord afflicting the board—ruckus that’s been spilling over and sparking fiery debates across the social media spectrum.
Prasert, ever the advocate for public well-being, urged the NBTC to zero in on extinguishing the wildfire that is call-centre fraud and cyber-threats. “Imagine,” he entreated, “a time when our citizens can browse, call, and text without the nagging fear of falling prey to these digital predators!” Our protagonist pressed upon the chairman the urgency of unity—a call to arms, if you will, to rally the divided ranks, ushering in an era of constructive collaboration.
Even the prime minister, tuned into the resonance of this digital discord, has offered to extend an olive branch in this symphony of mediation.
One cannot help but empathize with Prasert as he voiced his vexations. The epoch of SIM card accountability was to dawn upon us—each cardbearer merely a declaration away from aiding the fight against the call-centre marauders. Alas, the minutes ticked away, but the NBTC’s approval was as absent as a dial tone on a disconnected line.
But wait—what’s this? A revelation! With the power vested in him by the technology crime prevention and suppression act’s Article 4, Minister Prasert acted decisively, wielding his legislative longsword to cut through bureaucratic red tape.
Behold the ministerial edict: any SIM card titan, commanding a fleet of over a hundred calls per day, must step into the light and identify themselves; failure to do so shall incur the digital penalty of a suspended number. And lo! Another decree: Those holding more than five numbers must proclaim their identities forthwith or be rendered mute in call-making capability.
Ponder upon this, dear denizens of the digital domain: 94.6 million mobile numbers grace the Thai telephonic landscape, with a mere 7,644 entities holding dominion over more than a hundred numbers each. A staggering 6.1 million numbers under the governance of an elite few.
And so, as the saga continues, we behold a tale of consecutive conundrums—six NBTC meetings vanished into the ether, all for want of attendance. A pattern emerges: the valiant chairman and his loyal allies, Natthathorn and Torpong, standing noble and expectant, only to be thwarted by the absence of the quorum’s quartet.
Yet, amidst these chronicles of collapse, a glimmer of expedited action shines through. The NBTC Office, under the guidance of the acting secretary-general Trairat Viriyasiriku, has initiated the first measure against prepaid SIM cards employed as shields by overzealous callers—suspend now, identify later. The second measure follows suit: wielders of numerous SIM cards must unfurl their banners of identification or face the silence of suspension.
In conclusion, dear readers, let us be entertained and enlightened by this unfolding drama, a narrative threaded with anticipation as Thailand navigates the complexities of digital governance—a journey where every citizen holds a line of defense in their pocket, and the call for cooperation rings louder than ever.
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